Yuan's father was Yuan Shikai, a Chinese military and government officer during the late Qing Dynasty and the Emperor of China between end of 1915 and March 1916.
Yuan's mother was Lady Kim (金氏), his father's third concubine and a Korean born in Seoul.
He excelled in poetry and lyrics and was obsessed in collecting fine arts and antiques.
Yuan fled to Shanghai and joined a gang of thugs.
In addition to his wife, Yuan had five concubines, Qing Yunlou, Xiao Taohong, Tang Zhijun, Yu Peiwen, and Yaxian.